BESSEMER, Ala. (WBRC) – The Bessemer Police Department is working to rebuild its neighborhood watch program, saying the effort is focused on strengthening relationships between officers and the community while giving residents a more active role in what happens in their neighborhoods.
Thursday evening, community members gathered in Bessemer for what police described as a reintroduction to the program — the first step in what they hope becomes a long-term effort to reconnect with residents.
Sergeant Rishea Murray, who oversees the department’s Crime Prevention Unit, said the idea to bring the program back grew out of conversations officers were already having with residents while responding to calls…